Much loved by-election character to be retired

British comedian Jon Harvey is to retire his much loved comic creation. He has fought numerous by-elections in character with limited success, but has achieved worldwide recognition and international fame.

'It is time to hang up my costume,' said the comedian. 'As everyone will know by now, I based the character on Al Murray's pub landlord, and now I'm finally calling time.

'My alter ego, Nigel Farage, has been a widely recognised but divisive character. With his pint glass always in hand, I intended him to be funny and also ridiculous. It's a shame that many people took him seriously. I'm particularly alarmed that Rupert Lowe has positioned himself as a ridiculously extreme version of an already ridiculous character.

Fighting by elections as both Count Binface and Nigel Farage was very difficult for me. It required speedy costume changes and a well organised back up team. But I can't be in two places at once and that's why Nigel couldn't attend the declaration in Clacton. And it's why you didn't see much of Count Binface during the campaign.

So that's why I'm 'putting out the trash,' he concluded. 'And I'm retiring Binface as well.'

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